Dr. Gruen completed her veterinary degree at the University of Illinois. She came to North Carolina State University for an internship followed by a residency in veterinary behavior. She completed a Masters in Veterinary Public Health and became a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. After a few years on the faculty at NC State, she decided to pursue a PhD with a focus on understanding the behaviors associated with pain in cats with naturally-occurring arthritis. She then spent two years at Duke University, where she co-directed the Canine Cognition Center, and now has returned to North Carolina State University as an Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine.

Sina received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and began her career as a zookeeper, spending six years working closely with a variety of species before relocating to North Carolina in 2021. Sina joined NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine first in their Laboratory Animal Resources department as an Animal Care Technician, later advancing to the role of Enrichment Specialist, where she focused on improving animal wellbeing through behavioral enrichment and training programs. Driven by her interest in animal behavior, she joined the Thinking Pets Program in 2025 to support behavioral research in companion animals. In her spare time, Sina enjoys reading, gardening, kayaking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She is a proud pet parent of three fur babies, Maki, Leia, and Misha, and a scale baby, Steve.

Dr. Maggie Creamer got her doctorate at UC Davis in Animal Behavior and graduated as part of the Center of Animal Welfare housed within the department of Animal Science. Her PhD was focused on individual differences in cattle and how these are observed both in management contexts and while cattle are grazing on extensive, California rangelands. Maggie has always pursued research to improve animal welfare by understanding better how animals process and interact with their environment and in her new postdoctoral role at NC State, has pivoted this interest from livestock species to companion animal species. She is co-advised by Dr. Gruen and Dr. Lascelles at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine and is working on projects relating to understanding cognitive decline and negative affective states in dogs with Osteoarthritis both as a means to improve the health and welfare of our canine companions and also to understand this disease better in humans. 

Dr. Zoe Loh, holds a PhD in Pathology from Duke University, where she conducted groundbreaking studies under the mentorship of Dr. Ming Chen. Her doctoral research unveiled a novel nuclear function for PTEN in regulating dTMP biosynthesis, with potential implications for targeting prostate cancer cells with excluded PTEN from the nucleus using antifolate drugs. Currently, Dr. Loh serves as a postdoctoral researcher at the NCSU Vet School, collaborating with Dr. Margaret Gruen and Dr. Duncan Lascelles. Her current focus lies in investigating alterations in cognitive domains among dogs suffering from chronic osteoarthritic pain. Beyond her research endeavors, Dr. Loh is a compassionate caregiver, devoting her time at home to fostering litters of puppies and kittens from various local shelters and rescues. 

Dr. Morgan Ferrans received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2019 from Duke University. She remained at Duke for both her Master’s and PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience and graduated in 2025. Her PhD was focused on Animal Cognition. Morgan worked in the Hare Lab and Duke Canine Cognition Center, and brings a wealth of experience with her to NC State. Morgan is a loving pet-parent of both a dog and cat. Her dog, Goose, is a regular participant at the Thinking Pets Program!

Kara received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bates College and her Master of Science in Marine Sciences from UC-Santa Cruz. She works on our puppy cognition study in partnership with Duke University’s Canine Cognition Center, which aligns with her past research experience in animal behavior. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and boating.

Dr. Kyle Smith got his start studying dogs in 2017 when he started working as the lab manager for the Duke Canine Cognition Center. During this time, he compared the cognition of dogs and wolves, and he helped create the Duke Puppy Kindergarten. Subsequently, he completed his Ph.D. in anthropology at the Pennsylvania State University, where he studied the relationship between dog cognition, behavior in a dog park, owner perceptions, cortisol, and the microbiome. He joined the Thinking Pets Program as a postdoctoral researcher in 2025 not long after completing his Ph.D. In his spare time, he enjoys board games, finding fossils, and spending time with his partner and their dog Gali and cat Tuli.

Sera Hill received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from North Carolina State University in December 2025. She is currently a Research Assistant working across both Dr. Gruen’s and Dr. Lascelles’ laboratories, where she is gaining hands-on experience in behavioral and pain research as a mentee of both investigators. Her research interests include animal cognition, pain, and behavioral neuroscience. As an undergraduate, Sera spent two years in the Comparative Behavior Lab, where she developed a strong foundation in behavioral research. She also contributed to research presented at the Duke Maixner Pain Research Symposium and the NC State Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium. Sera’s passion for animal research began with her lifelong love of dogs – her family has cared for ten dogs and two horses over the years, an experience that sparked her interest in animal behavior and welfare. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading and journaling, traveling, and thrifting.

Clay is a senior double majoring in Biological Sciences with a Human Biology concentration and Psychology. He joined The Thinking Pets Program as an undergraduate research assistant in Fall 2025 and works with handling and behavior coding. After graduating, Clay plans to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing to become a nurse anesthetist. In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer, traveling, skiing, and playing with his dog, Mabel.  

Lilly is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Science with concentrations in Animal and Poultry Science and a minor in Statistics. She joined The Thinking Pets Program as an undergraduate research assistant in May 2025. Her research interests include animal welfare, cognition, and the human–animal bond in companion and food animal species, particularly in relation to socioeconomic development and food insecurity. Her 12-year-old hermit crab, Pickles, and backyard chickens first sparked her interest in animal welfare. In her free time, she is a competitive jump roper and judge, and enjoys rock climbing, thrifting, and traveling.